F/VoH Ch 129: Hidden Attack

"I will stop their movements," Ryan said as he swept his gaze over the dark forest in front of them. "You attack when they are distracted. We need to eliminate them quickly, but make sure there are some left for interrogation." Ryan's tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

"Understood, Master!" Arash replied, nodding his head. Arash's weapon was gripped tightly, ready to be used at any moment.

Without further words, they began to move closer to the Royal Army. Their steps were silent, almost like shadows gliding between the towering trees and branches that created a frightening silhouette under the moonlight.

Once they were close enough, Ryan stopped and took a deep breath. He crouched slowly, both hands touching the cold, damp ground. Closing his eyes, Ryan felt the energy around him, the air pulsing like a heartbeat.

...

...

...

On the other side, in the midst of the Royal Army, a burly man stood tall. The protective gear he wore looked luxurious, adorned with golden ornaments that indicated his status as a commander. His name was Captain Ravis, a man known for his ruthlessness on the battlefield.

Ravis watched his troops with a sharp gaze. Two hundred fully armed soldiers stood in neat formation around the dark and mysterious forest's entrance. This area was known as the Cursed Territory, a place where anyone daring enough to step too far would face an unforgiving curse.

Ravis smirked slightly as he observed the pitch-black forest. He knew that the Leader of the Rebel Forces might be hiding in there. Nevertheless, Ravis was not foolish enough to send his troops in without a strategy.

"If we fight in that forest, the curse could become our enemy's weapon," Ravis muttered, gripping the hilt of his sword. "It's better to wait here, at this gate. Sooner or later, they will reveal themselves."

The cold air from the forest felt increasingly oppressive. The wind that blew carried faint whispers that made some soldiers uneasy. Ravis turned to them and shouted, "Don't show fear! We are here to eliminate the rebels, not to become their prey!"

However, as Ravis spoke, the ground beneath them began to tremble softly. A heavy silence enveloped the place, as if the earth was holding its breath. Ravis sharpened his hearing, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the forest.

"There's something... Get ready!" Ravis shouted.

In the distance, Ryan stood with his eyes still closed. Ryan had connected with the energy around him, creating the power to stop the entire army in a single deadly strike. A small, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Ryan's face.

"Arash, your time has come," Ryan whispered softly.

And in an instant, the forest became a deadly battlefield.

At first, the atmosphere around the Cursed Territory was eerily quiet. Only the sound of the wind howling softly and the rustling of dry leaves on the ground could be heard. The soldiers stood alert, though some began to show signs of unease. However, that calm was suddenly shattered.

In an instant, one of the soldiers in the front line suddenly froze like a statue of ice.

"What?! What’s happening?" a soldier's voice broke the silence.

"Ahhh! Look at that man! That man... He’s really frozen!" another soldier screamed, pointing at the body now encased in cold ice.

"Why are they freezing?!" Panic began to spread like fire in a pile of dry straw.

The leader of the troops, Captain Ravis, immediately moved forward, his gaze filled with tension. "Get ready! Look around you! No one should let their guard down!" Ravis shouted loudly.

But before Ravis could finish his command, a whistling sound sliced through the air. Dozens of glimmering arrows appeared out of nowhere, flying with deadly speed.

Thwang!